[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 127 (Tuesday, August 4, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S4429]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING DAN CAUDILL

 Mr. PAUL. Madam President, I rise today to honor the life and 
legacy of Dan Caudill, a respected Kentucky business leader and a 
principled advocate for criminal justice reform, who passed away in 
December 2025. Dan was not merely a supporter of reform in theory; he 
lived it through his work and deeds. I was proud to work alongside Dan 
on the REDEEM Act, legislation rooted in the belief that justice should 
allow for redemption and that nonviolent mistakes should not 
necessarily become lifelong barriers to employment and opportunity. Dan 
brought that belief to life through his leadership at Caudill Seed 
Company, where he demonstrated that second-chance hiring strengthens 
both businesses and communities.
  Dan's testimony before the Senate Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship in July 2022 was especially impactful. He spoke 
plainly and persuasively about how outdated and overly broad background 
check practices harm workers, families, and employers alike and how 
giving individuals a fair chance after they have paid their debt to 
society leads to loyalty, productivity, and reduced recidivism. His 
testimony provided real-world evidence that reform is not only 
compassionate, but practical and economically sound. Dan Caudill's 
voice carried the moral clarity of experience, not ideology. His legacy 
will endure in the lives he lifted up, the reforms he championed, and 
the enduring reminder that a just society must always leave room for 
second chances.

                          ____________________